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Africa Steps Up Environmental Awareness

It seems that nowadays, people are always looking for a pick-me-up. Some do drugs, some plant a garden, and others try to help Africa.

Well, now- Africa is helping themselves.

According to reports by the online publication China View, a recent coalition of environmental and health administrators in Libreville, Gabon, witnessed the adoption of the Libreville Declaration. This document commits governments to taking measures in policies and institutional and investment reforms in order to optimize health and environmental statutes. They will address these issues in an interrelated manner to generate new solutions to social equity and poverty reduction.

Luis Sambo, the regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, said this is the first step towards saving millions of lives from the harmful effects of a changing environment.

The Statistics:

• 90% of the GLOBAL BURDEN of malaria and of schistosomiasis affects the population of sub-Saharan Africa
• One Quarter of deaths from disease are related directly to environmental factors
• 2.4 Million deaths in 2006 were linked to issues with the safety of the environment

“I am delighted that we have managed to secure political commitment to catalyze institutional changes needed to improve the health and well-being of communities in the region,” Sambo said.

What factors are at issue here?

• water supply contamination
• sanitation
• air pollution
• hygiene
• climate change

Like the U.S., Africa also faces challenges associated with chemical safety. Their farmers use large amounts of chemical pesticides to rid their crops of pests, and according to the fourth Global Environment Outlook program, there are as much as 50,000 tons of stockpiles of pesticides contaminating African air, water, soil, and food. And unfortunately, chemical poisoning cases most often go unreported.

“We will work together to promote strategic alliances between health and environment,” claimed Sambo.

Want to do your part here at home? Check out EcoSMARTs line of environmentally-friendly and organic pest control products. EcoSMART products use naturally occurring plant oils instead of harmful chemicals to kill ants and bugs safely, which protects your children, pets, and the environment from harm.

Alyse Popp